Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel, a cultural theorist and senior insights lead at Reddit, discusses the power of marketing and advertising to shape culture. She emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven marketing and the need for brands to understand their role in society. However, she expresses concern about a shift in discourse that downplays the importance of purpose and profit. Anastasia highlights the intersection of purpose and culture, urging marketers to critically think about their assumptions and biases. She also calls for a greater emphasis on cultural literacy and expanding one's point of reference in the marketing industry. The conversation explores the role of business in solving problems and the increasing trust in businesses compared to political institutions. It emphasizes the importance of critical consciousness and expanding perspectives in the marketing profession. The value of curiosity, cultural intelligence, and embracing discomfort is discussed, along with the need to seek tensions and challenge the status quo. The conversation also highlights brands that successfully embrace culture and change, as well as the power of grassroots movements. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:08 Writing a Book and the Power of Marketing 06:20 Challenges in Creating Culture as a Brand 09:00 The Intersection of Purpose and Culture 12:37 The Role of Brands in Shaping Culture 15:04 The Need for Critical Thinking in Marketing 21:38 The Damaging Effects of a Lack of Critical Thinking 25:07 The Future of Brands and Marketing 27:50 The Role of Business in Solving Problems 29:03 The Importance of Critical Consciousness 30:42 The Value of Curiosity and Cultural Intelligence 31:34 Embracing Discomfort and Seeking Tensions 32:17 Brands that Embrace Culture and Change 35:26 The Power of Grassroots Movements 42:36 Bold and Daring Advertising Campaigns Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.